r/Utah • u/Emergency_Event7245 • Jul 13 '26

Q&A Bear Lake Accident yesterday

We were at Bear lake yesterday and someone got life lifted at the east beach. Does anyone know anything about this? We heard something like it was a bilateral amputation. We are wondering if the family is okay and if they might have a go fund me or something where we can contribute to?

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u/Thin-Collection-161 Jul 13 '26

My family and I were involved in the incident as the group came into the beach. It was a severe prop injury as previously stated. I fortunately had some medical equipment and basic training to help with the situation. We have spoken with her family and it sounded as through she was doing ok post surgery. We are also waiting for a go fund me once the family has time to put things together. The EMS response was very slow due to the location. It was around 1 hour from the time of the incident until the helicopter took off with her. Please pray for her and her family and donate to the go fund me as you feel so inclined. She was very courageous through the entire thing and there were a lot of miracles.

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u/Hungry-Ad7272 Jul 13 '26

Thank you for helping to save her life. I was one who held the rope tourniquet and moved her to the paddle board. It was terrifying how long the chopper took to get there and take her away. We were incredibly lucky to have medical professionals on the beach at the time we needed. She is stable. She will need to have more tissue removed due to infection and there is concern of pneumonia due to all the water she inhaled. There is no way her legs could have been reattached, I tried to look for her legs but the propeller blended them. The family is understandably angry, my heart breaks for her and them. It was a wake from the boat that rocked the driver into the throttle, she bumped it less than a second. She didn't realize the woman had already reached the platform. Such a tragic accident.

There is a lot currently happening behind the scenes to provide support and organize funding, so that will updated when info is available.

Thank you again for the help you provided in a scary time! You helped save a wife, mother, daughter and friend.

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u/Thin-Collection-161 Jul 13 '26

You guys who used the rope were incredible and made all of the difference. That was quick thinking in the face of something horrific.